Chapter History
On June 1917, a group of Sullivan County citizens came together to organize and request a charter for a Red Cross Chapter in Kingsport. This charter was granted on July 11, 1917. At that time, the Board elected J. Fred Johnson Chapter Chairman. Other officers were Mrs. J. W. Dobyns, Vice Chairman; A. D. Brockman, Treasurer; Dora W. Stone, Secretary; William Roller, R. J. Hazel, William R. Pouder, T. B. Yancy, W. M. Bennett, R. B. Embree, M. B. Cainblos, and R. C. Johnson were members at large. Records show that the chapter sent supplies to be used in hospitals during the war years and fabric for use in aid to refugees. Few records are available for these early years, however, we know that Frank Cloud was Chairman from 1918 - 1942.
Red Cross volunteers assisted the tornado victims in March 1933. Immediately after this tornado, a disaster plan was created for the community under the direction of Tom Warrick, Chairman. Other members of this first documented disaster committee were: Dr. H. W. Longworth, Mrs. P. A. Beck, C. P. Edwards, O. R. Huber, Charles Rolling, C. T. Hamlett, Mrs. W. A. Dixon, S. P. Platt, and R. L. Peters. In 1936 five first aid stations were set up throughout the county to assist accident victims. One hundred dollars was appropriated to set them up and twenty dollars to maintain them. That same year, the Wednesday Club agreed to sponsor classes in Home Hygiene and Care of the Sick by providing a volunteer nurse to be certified as a Red Cross nurse to teach.
In June of 1942, Mr. Cloud retired as Chapter Chairman and was replaced by J. E. Wright. An office was opened with the first full time secretary being hired. Mrs. Bernice Dalton was elected as Executive Secretary and in 1943 was given a raise to $50 per month with a $25 car allowance. During these first years, the Chapter House was located in the municipal building.
In 1944, A Red Cross room was opened at the bus station for service men to use when passing through town; this was a joint effort between the Red Cross and the American Legion. Clothing was provided for disaster victims in Hawkins County and Red Cross nurses' aids were trained at Holston Valley Hospital.
During World War II, the chapter was involved in the War Fund Drive and Junior Red Cross in the schools. Cooking classes were held for war brides. Many messages were sent to servicemen and their families during the war years.
In 1951, the Chapter and Community Chest joined together in a United Fund Drive and became partners in 1952. During these years, the Red Cross Bloodmobile came from Ashville to Kingsport and the Chapter provided volunteers to staff Bloodmobile sites at Broad Street Methodist Church and Tennessee Eastman Company. In 1954, Holston Valley Hospital joined the American Association of Blood Banks, and the Chapter after careful study determined there was no need to carry on two blood programs in the community.
Throughout the years the Chapter has added programs in addition to disaster and home service ( now called Armed Forces Emergency Service). The Chapter began teaching health and safety classes to the community. After moving from the Municipal Building to the Welfare Building, the Chapters still did not have enough room for all its classes and equipment. A small house on Center Street was rented for a Chapter House. In 1963 the Chapter moved to its current facility on Wilcox Drive. The building belonged to the U. S. Army and was used by Holston Army Ammunition Plant. The original lease was for 5 years at a cost of $1 for 5 years.
Radio communications for use in disasters were set up at the Chapter in 1975 with donated equipment. The local radio clubs donated many hours to set up and operate the equipment in time of disaster.
The Chapter purchased its first vehicle in 1945, a 1941 Pontiac sedan. Throughout the years new vehicles have been acquired as needed through the Red Cross fleet plan and donations from the Kingsport Community Chest. In 1978 a disaster panel van was placed in our Chapter by the American National Red Cross. This vehicle was to be used across East Tennessee if needed in disaster.
Disaster assistance has always been given to local residents when disasters occurred on a local scale, i.e. tornadoes, floods, fires, etc. In 1977, when the Appalachian floods occurred in Southwest Virginia, the Chapter was alive with Red Cross paid and volunteer staff from across the county as over $10 million was spent to aid the disaster victims in our neighboring counties. Our Chapter was the first in the area to donate their quota towards the $10 million goal. Tom Goodwin, Chapter Chairman presented a check for $24,056 from the Kingsport Chest to the American Red Cross to fulfill the Kingsport Chapter quota. Many volunteers from our Chapter assisted in the Southwest Virginia counties during the flooding. Today, our disaster trained volunteers continue to assist at home and across the county when requested.
Since 1989 we have had a National Emergency Response Vehicle located in our Chapter, the only one between Knoxville and Roanoke. Volunteers take it to disasters near and far on 24 hours or less notice.
The Chapter House on Wilcox Drive has been upgraded to meet the growing needs of the Chapter. In 1988 it was remodeled to include the entire building. A computer network was added in 1992. The basement was paved and turned into a disaster response area in 1995.
From a paid staff of 1 in 1942, the Chapter has grown to 6 full time, and 4 part time employees. The volunteer numbers fluctuate in numbers and diversity of responsibility; the number is usually around 800.
In 1981 the City of Kingsport honored the Red Cross by using the Red Cross’s 100th birthday as the theme for the 4th of July Parade.
In 1984 a request was made to the Chapter from the American National Red Cross and the citizens of Rogersville to include Hawkins County in our service delivery area. The manager of the Hawkins County Chapter retired and there was no money to hire another director. Since that time we have provided all mandatory and many other services in Hawkins County as well as in Sullivan County.
The Chapter has always been involved not only in traditional Red Cross services but also works along with other community agencies and groups to meet needs in a cooperative manner. Long time relationships exist with the Kingsport Safety Council, Kingsport Social Service Council, Holston Valley Hospital, Indian Path Hospital, Senior Citizen Centers, Local Emergency Planning Councils in Sullivan and Hawkins Counties, Chamber or Commerce among others.
In 1993 the American National Red Cross began a reorganization process called SD21 (Service Delivery in the 21st Century) . In this process, all Chapters in the country were rechartered having to meet certain requirements. Our Chapter was one of the first 3 chapters in TN to meet all these requirements.
Another change due to SD21 was the organization of all Chapters into a statewide consortium. Due to a number of Chapters not meeting the standards for rechartering, there were many areas of the state without a Chapter to provide service. We became responsible for providing the mandatory services in Hancock, Johnson and Claiborne Counties in time of major disasters.
The Chapter has been ready to meet community needs since it was formed in 1917. Now almost 90 years later we continue to change as needed to carry out the mission of the American Red Cross.
Winnie McMahon/Jane Harris
